What the Cardinals could have been in 2024, and what they turned out to be, was not the same, much to the chagrin of everyone with the team.
“I’m disappointed we’re not playing right now, and that falls on me first and it’s our own doing,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “I also told them the game is fair. We shouldn’t be playing right now.”
The games are done. The work now begins to make sure the ending is much different next season. Under Gannon, the Cardinals went from four wins to eight and now move toward a third year in which a similar jump — and the accompanying potential postseason berth — will be the expectation.
GM Monti Ossenfort has worked diligently to build up the roster with an offseason coming for more important pieces — perhaps a difference-maker or two through free agency, another draft from which to add. The Cardinals will select 16th overall in the first round — barring a trade — and will find themselves in the middle of each round for most of their six picks.
They also, as always, have a handful of their own free agents to decide if they want back, although extensions for Budda Baker, Zaven Collins, Hjalte Froholdt and James Conner since the season started eliminated a lot of the heavy lifting.
“Everybody in this building knows change is inevitable,” Gannon said. “That’s going to happen. The team is not going to look like this.”
According to overthecap.com, the Cardinals will have about $83 million in salary cap space, fourth-most in the league. That will go a long way in allowing flexibility in the next few crucial team-building months.
